I want to bring love of my life from Thailand to UK – but don’t know how to make it happen

DEAR DEIDRE: HAVING finally been reunited with the love of my life, red tape is blocking our happy ending.

In 1999, I went backpacking across Thailand with some friends. One night, at a beach party in Phuket, I met Arisa.

She was 20, like me, and lived with her family. It was love at first sight.

We were inseparable for three weeks until I had to come back home.

Everyone thought it was a holiday romance, but it lasted for four years. I scraped together the money to visit her three times.

On the third time, I asked her to marry me.

She refused, saying she had to look after her younger siblings.

Back home, her letters started taking longer to arrive, and then stopped.

I assumed she’d lost interest. I tried to move on with my life.

I was training to be a chef but then my father got ill so I moved home to be his full-time carer.

Every few months, I’d search for Arisa online but nothing came up.

Then, in August 2021, I searched Facebook again and she was there. Still as beautiful as ever.

We had a video chat and it was like the past 22 years had never happened.

She explained why she’d stopped writing – her fami­ly moved home in 2005 and she’d lost my address and all my letters.

I had some savings so I flew out to Thailand and proposed again.
We married last summer.

We thought Arisa could live with me in the UK but it’s proving impossible.

They keep saying we don’t meet the financial requirements.

Once again we’re the opposite sides of the planet, and I’m scared our time together is running out.

I have a small inheritance from my dad but I don’t know if it’s enough to bring her home.

DEIDRE SAYS: Immigration law can be tricky to navigate so I would advise getting expert help with your application.

This doesn’t have to be expensive. Charities such as the Joint Council

For The Welfare Of Immigrants (jcwi.org.uk, 020 7251 8708) run free, confidential helplines.

Our government has a minimum income requirement for family visas.

Couples usually need to prove that, between them, they earn £29,000 a year.

However, this doesn’t have to be a salary, so your inheritance could help you meet the requirement.

For full details, visit the gov.uk. If you need help with your application, contact citizensadvice.org.uk.